The Australian National University (ANU) has been accused by one of its own academics of a 'hysterical' response to students using artificial intelligence to cheat, as tertiary institutions across the country scramble to shore up the credibility of assessments. However, another colleague warned that Australia is in danger of 'shipping our national intellectual capability' to companies in California and China if educational rigour is not restored.
Widespread AI use among students
The 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index found that 78.9% of secondary and tertiary students are using generative AI. ANU has released a consultation paper to academic and teaching staff with three options, including classifying assessments as 'secure'—completely free from the risk of AI cheating—or 'insecure'. Another option would require students to declare in which stages of an assessment AI was used.
An ANU academic who spoke to Guardian Australia on condition of anonymity said they supported the university's moves but described the process across the sector as 'panicked'. 'Everyone is adjusting in a panicked way, which is aggravated by a lack of resources to support teaching,' they said. 'It makes the shift to secure assessment really complicated.'
Criticism of consultation process
Another ANU academic was critical of the university, saying it was not adequately consulting on the changes and warning they could unwind progress in making assessments more inclusive for students with disabilities or caring responsibilities. 'This is not an earnest consultation, this is a reactionary response, perhaps one would argue a hysterical response,' they said. 'We are at a point of panic now. That panic has resulted in proposals that could see inclusion go backwards.'
The academic added that their faculty had already issued draft guidelines ahead of the second semester, pushing for greater on-campus assessment. 'Teaching begins in less than two weeks … we're being asked to do more at very short notice, with an utter lack of training.'
ANU's response
A spokesperson for ANU said the university had issued interim guidelines but no changes had been finalised for semester two. Further consultation would commence in August, involving 'students, staff, the ANU accessibility team and experts in inclusive design'. 'To support Semester 2, the working group has issued interim guidance informed by preliminary feedback from the academic colleges. The guidance does not prescribe particular assessment types or require a shift to in-person assessment,' the spokesperson said. 'Students who require reasonable adjustments to participate fully in learning and assessment will continue to receive them.'
Expert warnings on intellectual capability
ANU law professor Will Bateman, who leads research projects on the regulation of AI, said combating the infiltration of AI use in universities across Australia was critical to stop intellectual capability being shifted overseas. 'If we don't address the erosion of the norms and rigour in our education created by AI, we are just shipping our national intellectual capability to companies in California and China,' he said.
Bateman emphasised that securing assessments did not mean all assessments would be in person, but that technology should be better equipped to respond to AI use. 'Responding to AI doesn't automatically mean sending students back to exam halls en masse, but we need serious investment in fully secure devices to ensure that students are actually learning the material we teach and to assure people outside the university that the degrees we issue are meaningful.'
Other universities' approaches
The University of Queensland began implementing new policies to 'secure' its assessments earlier this year but drew criticism for scheduling in-person oral assessments during night hours and over the weekend. Deputy vice-chancellor of education Kris Ryan told Guardian Australia his university had begun considering responses to AI use in 2023, but said it takes time for implementation. 'There has been a shift by some academics across the university to put on more traditional exams as part of their secure assessment strategy,' he said. 'We owe it to the community at large that we can say, hand on heart, that our graduates have the capabilities that we value.'
UQ classes assessments as secure or 'open'. Ryan said secure assessments could include some AI use, but the university would require students to show 'critical appraisal of how AI comes up with the answer'. He acknowledged concerns that changes could leave some students behind but said the university was working with staff and students to accommodate those needs.
The University of Melbourne is also moving towards 'secure' assessments, with deputy vice-chancellor of education Professor Gregor Kennedy saying his institution was looking at more oral assessments as part of its AI response. 'The university is transforming its assessment approach to embed secure assessment types,' Kennedy said. 'This evolution involves more secure assessments, including interactive oral exams that can be tailored to different disciplines and student needs.'
Future outlook
Barney Glover, the new head of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission—an independent body tasked with overseeing key university reforms—said he was seeing more universities reintroduce oral exams to better test students but warned universities would 'need to be really responsible' in how they use or stop AI being used. Despite the 'challenges' posed by AI, Australia's 'world-class tertiary education system will adapt', he said.
